Expansion equalizing means for pipe junctures



i 7, 1933. w s DYER 1,896,225

EXPANSION EQUALIZING MEANS FOR PIPE JUNCTURES Filed April 18, 1931 INVENTOR:

z'ZZz'amEfl Dye];

BY M

TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT o FIcE WILLIAK E. S. DYEB, OF NOBLE, PENNSYLVANIA EXPANSION EQUALIZIITG' MEANS FOR ,PIPE JUNGTURES Application ma April is;

This invention relates to means for e ualiz ing expansion in flanged junctures'opipe lines used in conducting fluids at high temperatures and pressures.

Ordinarily, in high pressure'pipe systems where the juncture flanges of adj oining'pipe sections and the flange clamp boltsare rela tively heavy and bulky, uneven expansion takes place with fluctuation of temperature, that is to say: the piping responds more quickly to expansion and contraction than the connecting flanges under variant tempera ture influence. This is especially true, for example, in initiating flow of steam through a cold pipe line when the central portions of the flanges, in immediate contact with the adjoining pipe sections, will expand much more rapidly than their peripheral portions. Under such conditions, excessive strains are set up in the pipe flanges as well as in the bolts by which the flanges are clamped together; and flange ruptures and joint leakage are frequently traceable to this cause. Attempts have been made heretofore to obviate the dif- 25 ficulty by leaving the nuts of the clamp bolts somewhat loose with the idea of compensating for uneven expansion of the flanges, but this scheme has been found impracticable since it also invariably results in leakage of the pipe juncture when contraction takes place.

The purpose of my invention is to overcome the above recited drawbacks through provision of a simple, inexpensive and easily applicable expansion equalizing means capable of quickly and uniformly transmitting heat from the connecting pipe sections to all parts of the juncture flanges and the flange bolts, witheflective reduction of stresses like- 1y to result in fracture.

In the drawing hereunto attached, Fig. I is an illustration partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of a convenproved expansion equalizing means; and,

trations, 5 and 6 designate two connecting tional flange pipe juncture fitted with my imr931. Serial-No. 531,129.

pipe sections; 7 and 8, the pipe flanges; 9, the flange clamp bolts; and 10,the nuts associated with said clamp bolts. The means which I have devised'for insuring equal expansion in all the parts of such a juncture under variant pressures. and temperatures, com rises a cylindric casing 11 -of sheet metal,'w ich completely envelopsthe juncture flanges 7 and 8, as well as contiguous portions of the pipe sections 5 and 6". v To facilitate its application over the flange juncture, the casing .ll'is split diametrically, or, in other words, it comprises two substantially counterpart semi-circular components 11a and 11?). which interlap as at 12 along the regi on of meeting. The two casing components 11a, 116' it will be noted, are clamped together by screw bolts 13 at each side of the juncture;

and as 'shown,"thesez screw bolts 13. pass V throughpierced lugs 14,15 which are welded orootherwise permanently secured to the ca sing components 11a, 111) respectively The pipe openings 16 in the end walls 17 and'l8 of the casing 11.are made somewhat larger in diameter than .the pipes 5, 6 (see Fig. I) with provision of .ample circumferential expansion clearances. By means of a number of radially-directed adjusting screws .19 which take into lugs 20 on the end walls 17 and 18, the casing 11 can be properly aligned axially withthe pipe sections 5 and 6 incident to application, in a manner' which will be readily apparent from Fig.II.]

After 'applyingthe casing 11 as just explained, I fill it with a granular material 'M which is high in thermal conductivity, for example, copperffaluminum or iron filings or powders capable of quickly and uniformly transmitting heat from the ipe sections 5 and 6 to all portions of the flanges 7, 8 and the bolts ,9 exposed within the casing," This material I introduceinto the casing 1 1 after-the latter has been applied to the piping, either through the circumferential holes indicated at21 or'through holes 22 in the end walls 17 and 18, depending asto whether the piping ishorizontal orvertical. Incident to filling, I rock or shake the casing to insure close packing of the material aroundthe en veloped parts of the pipejuncture ;and after the casing'is completely filled, I tighten up on the clamp screws 13, and close the filling holes 21 and 22 with cover plates 23 and 24. These cover plates 23 and 24 may be secured with capacity for removal, by any convenient means such as screws or the like. The circumferential clearances around the holes 16 in the end walls 17 and 18 of the 'casingfor the pipe sections 5 and 6, I preferably seal with a suitable plastic cement as conventionally indicated at .27, 28. 'In practice, it is of course the intention to cover the casing 11 and the piping 5,6 with insulation suchas is ordinarily used in connection with steam pipe systems for the purposes of heat conservation. 1

From the foregoing it will be" seen that the. expansion equalizing means of my invention isvery simple, and easy and inexpensiveto construct, and to apply to the piping; and moreover. that it is highly -et'iicientinthe function .for which it is designed. V

,Having thus described myinvention, I claimz... f 1'. Expansion equalizing means for'flanged pipe junctures, comprising a casing of. counterpart'interlapping components filled with material high in thermal conductivity to completely envelop the juncture flanges and the contiguous portions ofthe connecting pipe sections, and means for securingsaid com-. ponents concentric to and in line with said sections. I V a 2. Expansion equalizing means for flanged pipe junctures, comprising .a. casing of counterpart interlapping substantially semi-cir-.

of thecasing for positioning the latter concentric to and in axial alignment with the pipe juncture, plastic'means sealing the expanslon clearances,'an'd an openlngor open-- ing's' the casing wall' having closure means whereby said casing fis filled with closely packed granulanmateifial of high thermal conductivity to completely envelop the pipe j g u 3. m

In testimony whereof I-have hereunto signed my name atIPhiladelphia, Pennsyl- Vania, this 17th day of April, 1931 j j I J i v I WILLIAM ES. .DYER.,.

components i y led with meterial' high in thermal conductivity to completely envelop the juncture flanges and the contiguous portions of the connecting pipe sections, and adjuster means for positioning said components concentric to and in axial alignment with saidsections. 1

3. Expansion equalizing means for flanged pipejunctures, comprising a. casing of cou n terpart interlapping substantially semi-circularcomponents jointly filled'with closely packed granular material of high thermal conductivityto completely-envelop the junc- V ture. flanges and the contiguous portions of I, V i

the connecting pipe sections, radially-directed adjuster means at. the ends of said components for positioningthe latterconcentric, to said sections, and means for clamping the componentssecurely together.. i r :4.- -Expansion equalizing means for flanged pipe junctures, comprising a casing filled with material high in thermalconcluctivity t0 4 V V completely envelop thejuncture flanges and the contiguous portions of the connecting pipe sections, said casing including counterpart diametrically split interlapping com:

ponents for convenience of application over the junctureand having openings with closures through which the filling material may 

